Among results of a cross-cultural study of elementary age trainable mentally retarded children in Japan (N=103) and their families, and a similar sample in the United States (N=88) were that the relationship between affective and emotional aspects of parental behavior and children's emotional adjustment appeared to be culture-specific. (Author/JW)

When Israeli four- to six-year-olds (N=120) wrote pairs of nouns sharing a syllable and sentences sharing either mainly nouns or mainly verbs, analysis indicated that the older the children, the more their invented writing reflected common linguistic elements and length of utterance. Nouns were represented in children's written productions earlier…

Offers examples of non-standard mathematical application problems. The applications come from a variety of areas including industry and other cultures. (PK)

Describes study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive videodisc program Mastering Fractions. The videodisc program is compared with traditional fractions curriculum and teaching methods in sixth grade classes; pretests, posttests, and mastery tests used are discussed; and results of the study are analyzed. (LRW)

Summarizes five studies related to computerized language education: (1) speech synthesizers and children's writing abilities; (2) comparison of Writing to Read program and traditional teaching; (3) evaluation of Writing to Read program; (4) deaf adolescents and sentence construction; and (5) student attitudes toward writing with computers vs.…

Examines the relationship between (1) use of and reliance upon particular media, (2) participation in activities linked to a conflictive public issue (South Africa) and (3) knowledge about that issue among black college students in Washington, DC. Concludes reliance on a particular medium is less important than interest and motivation in…

From a random sample of 4,441 board members, 1,482 (33 percent) responded to a survey. Women board members are more interested in curriculum than finance and expect to be more involved in school system decision making. Respondents' demographic characteristics and areas of concerns are shown in region-by-region charts. (MLF)

Sketches the outlines of a life-span perspective on competence development, which focuses on beliefs about one's potential for producing desirable outcomes. The concern is with the nature and implications of individual differences in perceptions of personal agency and likely origins and development of the perceptions in the early years. (Author/BB)

Based on 128 studies comparing the effects of technology instruction and conventional instruction in Japanese elementary and secondary schools, this meta-analysis describes the findings for student achievement (116 studies), aptitude treatment correlation (9 studies), and student attitude (8 studies). Findings are analyzed by both type of media…

Reports on a study designed to examine the effect of concrete and formal instruction upon reasoning and science achievement of sixth grade students. Results indicated that the concrete instruction group had significantly higher levels of performance in science achievement and cognitive development and that males outperformed females. (TW)

When asked how much freedom they had in determining course content, elementary and secondary teachers in England responded that they didn't have total freedom, nor were they totally restrained. They felt that this was how things should be. The most important factor influencing curricula is aid provided by external professional groups. (Author/RM)

Results of a survey of University of Sydney faculty of arts students concerning their educational aspirations and progress, employment patterns, class scheduling and attendance patterns, and college choice are summarized and discussed. (MSE)

Characterizes gap between potential of computers in education and their performance in classrooms; documents differential participation of males and females in computer experiences and discusses contributory factors; describes two studies of how males and females respond to computer learning environments; and suggests actions to foster equitable…

Surveys recent literature on computer programing focusing on psychological studies of the programing task and selected instructional issues related to precollege programing. The cognitive demands and outcomes of programing, the influence of instruction on learning, and individual differences in outcomes of programing are specifically addressed.…

Four experiments were conducted to extend the "descriptions" approach to differences in using retrieval cues among second and fourth graders and college adults. Results indicate that deficits in discriminability and constructability contribute independently to developmental differences in using retrieval cues and suggest reasons for such…